Window-curtain



PURCHI-ISj MILES, `OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

WINDOW-CURTAIN FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 16,989, dated April '7, 1857.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PURCHES MILES, of the city and county of Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Curtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l represents a front elevation showing my improvement as applied to a window, the front part of the bracket and spring being removed; and Fig. 2 a vertical section of the roller taken through the red line m of Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the underside of the bracket and spring, showing the application of the latter to the flanged sides of the pulley, the band being removed, and the roller broken off; and Fig. 4 a vertical transverse section of the same, through the line .fr of Fig. 3, looking toward the bracket.

On rolling up and unwinding window shades it not unfrequently happens that the cord or band which operates them from some derangement of the lower pulley is thrown from the upper one, causing trouble and inconvenience to the party raising it at the time; this being more especially the case with that class in which the lower pulley is dispensed with, and to which mine more immediately belongs. The roller also on being operated is exceedingly liable to end play, and unless very rigidly supported, which in light work like this is a diflicult matter to accomplish, is very apt to slip out of its socket or bearing and fall to the ground, involving both time and trouble in replacing it.

To remedy these defects is the object of my invention, and it consists in arranging a spring in front and another in rear of the roller between or resting upon the flanges of that end forming the pulley over which the band passes; as these springs rest upon project-ions formed on the inner faces of the flanges or bear upon their edges and the band or cord passes between them and the pulley it will readily be seen that they will prevent the band from being thrown or cast from the pulley; while their pressure upon the flanges will hold the shade at any required height. It will also be seen that as the springs are rigidly secured to the lips of the bracket at one end, and their other bears on the projections formed on the inner surface of the flanges, that they will prevent any end play of the roller.

In the accompanying drawing E represents a bracket in the rear side of which a hole is cast` forming a bearing for the journal of the roller This bracket is provided with two lips (a) by which it can be fXed either between the casings or on the face of the window. To these lips are secured springs (D) so shaped in this instance as to lit loosely between the flanges (B) and bear upon the circular projection formed on their inner surface, these springs serving the threefold purpose, of keeping the band in place; supporting the shade at any required height; and preventing the roller from having end pla i In the use of springs bearing upon the roller sulliciently hard as to be able by their friction to support the curtain at any required height, it will readily suggest itself to the mind of any one conversant with these matters, that the usual pulley and ratchet to tighten the belt or cord to yield the requisite friction to revolve it, is impracticable as it would interfere with and impede their action in their capacity of supp orts to the shade. And as it is desirable to dispense with the simple cord secured at one end to the roller, which involves the necessity of either drawing the shade down by its lower extremity which has a tendency both to tear and soil it) or else the use of another cord upon the other extremity of the roller for this purpose. I remove these diiiiculties by using as a cord, a band of tape (A) or other suitable material of the necessary width, having Ia series of metal eyelets (c) secured in it about an inch apart, or at such a distance as will correspondwith a series of pins or teeth (e) projecting from the surface of the pulley (d) which take into them. This band and armed pulley being particularly useful where the curtains are large and heavy, preventing slipping &c. to which it would otherwise be liable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as neW and desire to secure by Let- In testimony whereof I hereunto set my ters Patent shand this tenth day of December7 A. D. 1856 l0 The ar'engement of the springs (13%O for in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses. the three old pur vose of kee ing the and 5 in place; supporthg the shapde at any Ie- PURCHES MILES quired height, and preventing the roller Witnesses: from having end play in the manner sub- P. I-IANNAY, stantially as set forth. JAMES VM. Ross. 

